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Wind energy is getting a lot of attention these days, but companies tapping into wind turbines are still running into stiff resistance. While wind farms are popping up onshore all over the country, not a single offshore turbine has been installed in the United States. Europe, by contrast, is home to more than 20 offshore turbine projects. What is stopping American communities from embracing wind energy?

The Department of Energy recently released a report asserting that wind energy could supply up to 20% of the nation’s needs by 2030. Wind is already supplying 20% of Denmark’s needs and 12% of Spain’s demand. This would mean that U.S. wind companies, which are currently supplying just over 1% of the U.S. megawatt hours, would need to dramatically ramp up production. However, community groups in many coastal locations have stalled or blocked offshore turbines from being developed.

Offshore turbines are controversial for a number of reasons. Even though offshore installations would make the delivery system more efficient, supplying larger coastal cities, they do present a number of problems. For one, installation costs are shocking for offshore projects. A Long Island wind project was rejected by the local power authority following homeowner protests and controversy surrounding a $700 million price tag. A Massachusetts project near Nantucket Island has also seen protests by local residents. Seaside homeowners say the wind turbines would drag down property values because of their supposed unsightliness. Others claim the massive mills would harm sea life.

Indeed, offshore turbines are huge. A typical turbine is described by the Wall Street Journal as, “a tower nearly as tall as the Statue of Liberty and a rotor roughly as wide as a football field is long.” However, not all coastal communities are thinking of seascapes and property values when they think of wind installations. Hull, Massachusetts has embraced wind energy, with town manager Philip Lemnios calling the turbines, “one of the defining symbols of our town.”

Hull has installed two onshore wind turbines, which combined supply approximately 13% of the town’s energy needs. Now a plan is moving forward to install 4 larger turbines offshore, which could potentially provide power for the entire town. Residents already enjoy lower electricity bills than surrounding communities, and on the whole the seacoast community supports the clean energy project. A community website, HullWind.org, tracks their wind energy production and follows the progress of their offshore project. The town has even been honored by the Department of Energy, receiving the Wind Power Pioneer Award in 2007.

Hull’s example of embracing coastal wind projects will hopefully be emulated by other seaside towns. If more offshore projects receive community support, windmills can become beautiful symbols of clean, renewable energy instead of being perceived as the end of a “perfect” view.

IBM is teaming up with Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Company (TOK), a Japanese semiconductor-equipment company, to commercialize solar-energy technology. This technology is being developed and will include producing thin-film photovoltaic solar cells that convert sunlight into electricity. IBM expects to license and distribute the technology according to a Wall Street Journal article.

IBM will leverage their cell making knowledge while TOK will add its technology used in the semiconductor industry and for coating LCD panels, according to a recent Reuters article. Other large technology companies are also exploring alternative energy technologies, whether with financial support or technical expertise.

Photovoltaic solar products turn sunlight into electricity without releasing chemicals to pollute the air. Current energy sources include coal, oil, and nuclear, all of which produce pollutants; solar is intriguing to many investors because it’s a clean way to harness a natural energy source. Commercializing solar energy will decrease the cost of clean energy. As the cost of renewable, clean energy sources falls, more individuals and businesses will find it easy to go green.

IBM and TOK are looking to experiment to try making solar modules able to convert more of the sun’s rays into electricity. As an IBM press release explains, “IBM Research has developed new, non-vacuum, solution-based manufacturing processes for [copper-indium-gallium-selenide] CIGS solar cells and is targeting efficiencies around 15% and higher. Current thin film product efficiencies vary from around 6% to less than 12%.” If the companies can find a way to do this, it will be able to help the overall effect of solar energy on the environment. Solar energy will be much more efficient.

The companies also want to make the price of solar power competitive with traditional energy sources such as coal, oil, and nuclear energy. “I think that if we can get to a module cost of less than $1 per watt, and be able to keep a handle on the system cost…photovoltaics still need roughly a 2 (times efficiency) improvement,” said IBM Research’s Supratik Guha in a press release.

No matter how much solar technology costs, it is a good idea for companies to take part in its development. Now with IBM and TOK trying to make this type of energy more affordable, the implementation of solar energy is not only good for the environment but for businesses as well. Solar energy can be play an important role in helping make the businesses “greener” in the future.

Sometimes a good idea is ahead of its time.  This can be said of the Segway device.  Unveiled at the end of 2001, the Segway was announced as the innovative way for single person transportation.  It was unique in that it was self-balancing, interpreting the user’s posture as to how the engine should move the Segway.  But with September 11th barely behind the world, and gas prices averaging $1.70 per gallon, the focus on fuel efficiency and environmentalism just wasn’t there.  Six years later, the Segway’s time may have finally come.

When it was first nationally displayed on Good Morning America, the Segway received huge acclaim.  Steven Jobs was quoted as saying that it would be “as big a deal as the PC.”  International stars like Jackie Chan became retailers.  But the price tag of $5000 per unit, tended to turn people off.  The almost intuitive transportation device that ran off electricity was relegated to novelty.  And after mandatory recalls related to safety issues in 2003 and 2006, the Segway slipped out of the public consciousness as just another novelty item that wasn’t quite ready for prime time.

Segway has not sat still over the last few years.  Incremental improvements in the design and features of the latest model, the Segway PT i2 and x2, have made this alternative commuting vehicle more palatable to municipalities and private consumers alike.  Whereas original models relied on a user to twist the handlebars in order to turn the Segway, new software can now interpret the way a rider leans to steer the vehicle in the desired direction.  All this is enabled by proprietary software that interprets the position of five gyroscopes inherent in the system, and is powered by an electric battery.  New color choices are available along with specific modifications based upon intended use; police, cargo, adventure, golf, or commuter. 

Still there are other competitors in the market for alternative commuting machines.  As investigated in an earlier Talkibie article, e-bikes are gaining ground among gas-conscious consumers world-wide.  Segways are able to offer a better range per charge, (25 miles per charge versus an e-bike average of 20 miles), but when the juice runs out on an e-bike, you can still pedal your way home.  Segways do offer a smaller footprint with its widest dimensions being 4′, and better maneuverability, as displayed in this Wall Street Journal video.  However the $5000 price tag of a Segway, makes the average $2000 price tag of an e-bike seem rather steep for slight differences.

While Segways offer another way of getting around, don’t expect them to be the solution for most commuters.  Until the pricing becomes competitive with  e-bikes, or the range per charge increases significantly, Segways will still be a more viable option for inner-city cop beats and tour guide businesses.  Past events may have conspired against Segway’s acceptance as a transportation solution, but present gas prices, environmental concerns and commitment to continual improvement are setting a stage where the Segway can not just survive, but thrive.

As speculation pushes the price per barrel for oil ever skyward, consumers are feeling the pinch not just when they fill up their cars but also as they take wing.  Recent moves by airlines to increase baggage charges to offset rising fuel costs have earned the ire of the flying public.  But the aviation industry has been working for years on innovative technologies to conserve fuel, operate in a more environmentally friendly manner, and salvage an ever decreasing profit margin.  From airplane manufacturers to pilots, airline policy makers to passengers, power plant to airframe engineers, all members of the aviation community are taking action to make flying more green.

Airline policies and pilot practices have become crucial in managing fuel burn from taxi to takeoff and beyond.  Considering that a single MD-80 aircraft engine taxiing on the ground burns as much fuel as 90 SUVs traveling at 60 miles per hour, managing every minute of engine time is crucial.  According to a pilot for a regional commuter airline who wished to remain anonymous, “We use a single engine taxi procedure when ever possible. This limits fuel burn considerably while taxiing, almost cutting it in half.  In cruise, we used to typically fly at mach 0.78 or faster. We now limit the speed on occasion. If it is going to save fuel to fight a strong head wind at a slow speed or save fuel by flying fast with a strong tail wind.”  American Airlines innovative paint job, (or lack thereof), saves on aircraft weight and allows for polishing of the aircraft to cut down on drag.  Removing inflight magazines, switching to lighter catering carts, and servicing lavatories on short hops are just a few of the solutions that airlines are implementing to better manage fuel burn.   

Changes made by aircraft manufacturers are also making a difference.  Existing fleet aircraft can be outfitted with winglets or exhaust cones to decrease drag and increase fuel efficiency.  Boeing winglets have proven to save 7% in fuel costs.  MD-80 airframes are being refitted with exhaust cones which American Airlines estimates will save 1.7 million gallons of fuel per year.  New airframe designs offer a long term solution for the future.  Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner will be consist of a composite body structure instead of traditional metals.  Boeing estimates their composite structure will burn 20% less fuel per passenger.

Aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney is leading the way in fuel efficient technologies for aircraft engines.  Alan Epstein, Vice President, Technology and Environment for Pratt & Whitney spoke exclusively with Talkibie about three specific projects.  First is an engine cleaning service called EcoPower.  The EcoPower system uses ionized water to flush out an aircraft’s engine and has a reclamation system that captures the exiting water for cleaning and re-use.  “No contaminants are released into the ground.  It’s totally self contained,” explains Epstein.  By cleaning an engine twice a year, overhaul times are extended, and fuel efficiency is increased.  “The EcoPower service is a great win for everyone.  It works on all engines, not just Pratt & Whitney…we’re a very magnanimous company,” Epstein jokes. 

A second project which partners Boeing, Japan Airlines (JAL) and Pratt & Whitney involves testing biofuel performance for commercial airline use.  The test will power one Pratt & Whitney JT9D engine of the JAL-owned Boeing-747 airframe.  Scheduled for March of 2009, the test will monitor the performance of a 50/50 mix of jet fuel and biofuel over a period of a few hours.  Upon landing, the engine will be removed for a complete overhaul to analyze the effects of the fuel on its components.  When queried as to the distant timeline, Epstein confided that Boeing is working to find a large enough supplier of biofuel to make the test a reality for next year.  Mind you, this is not biodiesel but a completely alternative fuel source which can sustain or perform better than current fuel sources.  “Don’t laugh, there are some biofuel sources out there which have the potential of performing better than existing fuel sources. And we’re talking about second generation biofuels, like jatropha, that don’t compete with food sources.” 

Finally, Epstein proudly announced the latest innovation in engine technology:  the Geared Turbofan™.  The Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan™ will be field tested on Mitsubishi and Bombardier airframes capable of carrying 70 to 100 passengers.  Utilizing ultra high bypass technology, the Geared Turbofan™ engine reduces fuel burn by 20%.  This roughly equates to $2 million in fuel savings per year for a 737 type airframe.  The Geared Turbofan™ also reduces nitrous oxide emissions by 60% and is so quiet, only one quarter of the people who normally complain about aircraft noise were able to tell the difference between when the engine was powered on versus when it was powered down in landing configuration.  “We here at Pratt & Whitney aren’t just looking to create solutions which accommodate the environment, but rather aggressively investing in technologies which will enhance the environment,” declared Epstein.  “Since 1927, we’ve been creating ‘Dependable Engines’.  Moving forward we want to make Green engines.”

While power plant, biofuel, and airframe solutions may be a few years away, there are some things passengers can do immediately to help airlines and the environment in the long run. 

• Pack efficiently and avoid unnecessary items
• Help your flight leave on time by quickly boarding, stowing luggage, and taking your seat
• Buy carbon credits to offset the carbon footprint of your travel 
• Invest in companies researching alternative fuel development
• Push for legislation which mandates policies that support your goals 
• Recognize that propeller or turbo-fan aircraft are not your enemy and seek out fuel efficient airframes when booking your next vacation

It takes a conscious effort to make something happen.  By supporting research, investing in like-minded companies, and patronizing companies who use products that are good for the environment, the flying public can help to steer aviation towards a more efficient tomorrow.  Proactively working together towards a solution, the aviation community is doing their best to weather the impending fuel crisis storm.  Even better are the long term goals which will help everyone circumnavigate fuel concerns altogether via eco-friendly alternatives of the future.

It’s a fact of life that gas prices are climbing and consumers are forced to pay uncomfortable prices. People depend on automobiles for transportation to almost everything. Unless you are a city dweller who can walk the streets, ride a taxi, or hop on the subway people rely on their own vehicles. Driving to work allows employees to control when they come and go. Many people are unwilling to give up commuting, and employers are trying to find ways to help their workforces pay for transportation.

“The country is coming to terms with permanently higher gas prices,” says John Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray & Christmas in a recent Workforce.com article,

However, businesses are taking the initiative to help out their employees who are suffering from the struggle against high gas prices. Companies are now offering compressed work schedules, telecommuting, gas cards, and carpooling. Challenger says that these ideas are long term and are the beginning of a revolution of the work place. The time put in by employees during the week will become less important. What will become more important is the productivity level of workers.

“The idea of a set workday or a five-day workweek doesn’t make sense,” Challenger says. “It’s not about the time you put in. It’s about the work you do.”

Telecommuting is a great part of this plan to help employees battle gas prices and increase productivity. If an employee works from home it is beneficial for them because it conserves fuel but also beneficial for the business the person works for because there are no work place distractions. True, distractions are available at home, but many individuals find they get more accomplished when working from home. Many companies are offering the option of telecommuting to employees.

More companies than ever before might start offering 4 day work weeks as another alternative to the daily commute. On the forefront of this trend is the State of Utah, whose employees are now on a mandatory shortened week. Employees will work 4 longer days so that residents will still have access to state services. Not only will the move help employees deal with high energy costs, but it also helps reduce usage, perhaps by as much as 20%. Governor Jon Huntsman told said, “The reaction [from the public] has been very much a willingness to give this a go.”

A gas gift card is another popular perk that is attractive to employees. Some companies are providing reimbursement for commute costs or offering gift cards for exceptional work. Wellness programs are also offering bicycles to workers who want to burn calories instead of fuel. Again, by connecting excellence with financial incentives, employers are increasing worker productivity while reducing their total impact on the environment.

In a way, gas prices are fueling this “high productivity/low environmental impact” revolution. It will be interesting to see if this revolution continues even if gas prices go down. Businesses should make these incentive policies permanent because employees will be motivated to spend less time in the office and more time being productive.

As rising oil costs are making commuters feel the pinch at the pumps, more folks are turning to electric bicycles, or ebikes, as a means of transportation.  The ebike has seen a significant surge in popularity in Asian nations but is also making inroads in the Americas, as well.  Not just another form of moped, ebikes also offer commuters a way to get to work without creating emissions.  Recent models are sleek, sensible, and even a little romantic in a greener “Roman Holiday” fashion.

The electric bicycle is not just a new, ecologically minded type of moped.  There are actually two types of electric bikes out there: power assist and power on demand.  As electric bike manufacturer Veloteq’s website explains, “Power-on-demand ebikes do not require the operator manually pedal the vehicle, although this capability is provided.  Power-assist ebikes require manual pedaling, assisted by the electric motor as desired, or required by the operator, for example, to surmount a steep grade, or simply make pedaling easier after a long ride.”  This differs from scooters in that a scooter does not allow for manual pedaling and is capable of speeds greater than 35 mph.  Mopeds, while slower than scooters, generally are rated for 30 mph and are faster than ebikes.  And while mopeds and scooters both require gasoline to power their engines, ebikes rely on a battery cell or manual power.

Both high gas prices and a more environmentally conscious populace are driving the ebike to new levels of popularity.  In Japan, BusinessWeek reports “Domestic shipments of the electric bikes—which can be pedaled—may reach a record 300,000 this year, up 40% from 2003.”  Vietnam is also seeing a surge since legislation passed forbidding highschool students to ride motorcycles.  “Since before the Lunar New Year, we have sold 15-20 electric bikes per week, sometimes double that number,” an employee of H-M bicycle store told VietNamNet. In the Americas, companies like Veloteq are experiencing enough growth to take retail outlets beyond just the West Coast and Southern states, where climates favor bicycle travel year round, to East Coast towns like Boston, MA. 

As someone who commutes to work via bicycle, the ebike option is interesting.  I bike to work because of gas prices and the ability to get a workout while commuting.  If my commute were more than ten miles, the ebike would definitely be on my wish list.  However, the facts that I live in New England and I only commute five miles are probably going to keep my visit to Veloteq’s Boston branch more in line with “intent to spy” than “intent to buy”.  My recommendation to fellow commuters who think they’re not in good enough shape or live 15 miles away from work: get on your ebikes and ride!

In continuing its efforts to be a leader in environmental issues, Samsung has unveiled the first corn-based plastic cell phones with built in environmental alarms.  “Samsung is striving to continue to be a strong corporate citizen that contributes to environmental sustainability,” said Geesung Choi, President of Samsung’s Telecommunication Business. The F268 handset, which has been released for sale in China, also utilizes a charging alarm to alert users when their handset is fully charged to help cut down on wasted electricity.  Additionally, all of the accessories for the F268 are free of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and BFRs (brominated flame retardants).  While these chemicals are used to make it hard for products to catch fire, they may be contaminating the environment.  Finally, cellphone users can go high tech without selling out the planet.

Samsung maintains a very eco-friendly reputation among Fortune 500 companies.  Back in 2004, Samsung started a Green Take-Back Program aimed at corporations who wanted to recycle used toner cartridges.  Consistently earning high marks among environmental watchdog groups, it has recently shared top honors on the Greenpeace’s most recent quarterly Guide to Greener Electronics, scoring a 7.7 out of 10.  The W510 and F268 model handsets are another step forward in Samsung’s corporate philosophy of creating the technology of tomorrow without negatively impacting the future world environment.

Corn based bio-plastics are not new.  Other companies, like Wal-mart, have committed to utilizing corn-based plastics, or PLA plastics, over traditional PET plastics in recent years.  Once more expensive to produce than petroleum based plastics, the recent shift in oil-prices now have manufacturers reviewing their margins and slowly switching to products that can handle PLA based packaging over PET products.  The major drawback for most: a low melting point.  As packaging experts told Smithsonian magazine, “It’s cost stable, but it can’t go above 114 degrees. I’ve had people call me and say, ‘Oh my god, I had my takeout box in my car in the sun and it melted into a pancake!’ ”  However, Samsung has finally managed to find a new blend of corn-based plastic which can withstand the heat.

As an amusing footnote, Samsung is managing a couple of firsts with these products.  The F268 is currently being marketed in China as the Beijing Olympic phone.  As mentioned in Talkibie’s mobile Olympics article, Samsung is taking the risk of being the first to target smartphone technology and tailor it to this international sports event.  It should be interesting to see if Samsung’s environmental and marketing strategies, much like the Olympic hopefuls, will be able to bring home the gold.

Many state governments are taking the lead on renewable energy by contracting with clean sources to supply their power grids. California is one of the most progressive, mandating that at least 20 percent of their power be supplied by renewable companies by 2010. A new solar company called BrightSource Energy is helping to achieve that goal. The Oakland, CA-based company is building a massive, innovative solar field in the Mojave Desert, which will be capable of producing up to 900 megawatts of clean power in the next decade.

BrightSource was founded by Arnold Goldman, who had previously experimented with solar energy in the 1980s. Though his first company, Luz International, failed to catch the public imagination, renewed interest in clean energy he has made BrightSource an early success. The company has attracted influential investors, including Google’s philanthropic offshoot Google.org, Chevron Technology Ventures, and BP Alternative Energy.

Goldman’s success in gathering venture-capital funds is due in part to early projects that have proven the technological capabilities of BrightSource’s solar fields. Dynamic Tower Power (DTP) is a system which employs thousands of small mirrors called heliostats to focus the sun’s rays on a particular spot. The effect is similar to that of using a magnifying glass to start a fire. The heliostats are controlled by a computer, and they are programmed to rotate with the sun, directing the heat energy to a tower topped with a boiler. The water is heated to nearly 1000° F, and the steam produced turns a turbine to generate electricity.

BrightSource’s team of engineers have set up solar fields in Israel’s Negev Desert to prove the efficiency of their design. They are now turning their attention to California’s Mojave Desert, where plans are in place to build the Ivanpah Solar Power Complex. The company will begin building the series of solar thermal plants in 2009. Ivanpah is expected to produce 400MW per year, enough to power 250,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions by over 500,000 tons per year. BrightSource hopes to expand their Mojave Desert plans. Their website claims, “If BrightSource Energy plants were built on less than 2% of the land in the Mojave Desert, they would provide enough power for all of the homes in California and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by over 30 million tons per year.”

The possibilities for large-scale solar plants are just beginning to be explored, and BrightSource is at the forefront of this movement. Pacific Gas & Electric (PG &E) has partnered with BrightSource to buy 500MW of solar energy, and other power companies or states with natural solar hotspots are sure to follow. The company has a localized view of renewable energy, making the most of the natural environment in Southern California to improve public access to renewable energy.

The sky is green in Dubai. The Middle East country continues to construct defined skyscrapers to fill its sky line. Most of these wonderful structures are large and tall, but a number of them are also meeting green building standards.

A new 59-floor building called the Rotating Tower will be added soon. Construction starts this month. According to Inhabitat, it’s the first building of its size produced in a factory and it will be powered by only wind and solar energy. Each floor is made up of 12 modular units and the building will generate 10 times more energy than needed with its solar panels that will be fitted on the roof. The structure will be able to gather wind energy with turbines between the rotating floors.

The tower floors will rotate around a central axis and the rotation will last in continuous motion. Additionally, the building’s shape will constantly change as each floor rotates separately, which will make it look different as the building turns but also make it earthquake-resistant according to architect David Fisher. Residents of the building will have the option of choosing a view of the outside by touching a button.

This building is only part of what has already been taking place for Dubai in the Middle East. A new 80,000 ton rotating, solar-powered tower receives its energy stored from a power plant in the base of the building. The large building also has a timepiece down the whole building for people to see. This project started in June 2007. There is also the 576 meter tall Pentominium that was proposed for building in Dubai. Designed by Aedas, it will be a 120-floor tower with a few sky gardens every five or six floors to make it environmentally friendly, according to Inhabitat. Additionally, already on the landscape of Dubai is the O-14. It is an office tower that was built last December. It stands 22 stories tall and the building’s façade serves as a solar screen. According to Inhabitat, its a clean and green structure that lets in light and air. The one-meter space between the façade and the building’s glass surface creates a chimney effect causing hot air to rise and the building to cool.

The neighboring emirate of Abu Dhabi, one of the world’s largest oil suppliers, has actually granted land for a carbon-neutral city called Masdar to be completed in 2009, according to a recent Talkibie article. This city will be automobile-free with shaded walkways and a solar-powered transit system. It will also provide commercial office space to companies that are focusing more on the advancement of renewable-energy technologies, such as British Petroleum (whose new slogan is “Beyond Petroleum”). Abu Dhabi has also established $100 million for a clean technology fund.

These projects are all very unique and some might just be for experiment’s sake. But these plans for green and energy-efficient skyscrapers, transportation, and businesses could lead to many possibilities in the future. Some that could potentially make the earth cleaner and healthier, while being more attractive at the same time.

It is amazing to think that even 10 years ago gas prices at some gas stations were still less than a dollar per gallon. Now we struggle to find gas prices under $4.00 a gallon. We all know that we need to conserve, but we kid ourselves into thinking that there is nothing we can do to make a difference. We still see people driving gas-guzzling SUVs to the supermarket or driving 80 mph on the highway to work. However, some are suggesting that by using “hypermiling” techniques, we can use less gas, help the environment, and save some money.

Many are combating high fuel costs by buying smaller fuel efficient cars or hybrids to get better gas mileage. Some automakers are reporting small car sales, like Honda’s Fit and Toyota’s Yaris, are up as much as 50% while trucks and SUVs are not moving off lots. If you can’t afford a brand new car there are other tricks you can use to get the most out of your gas mileage. Hypermiling is a series of steps that could help you exceed your vehicle’s EPA fuel economy rating. No single thing will maximize your gas mileage, but when you add it all up you can squeeze up to 15 extra miles out of every gallon. Your fuel efficiency can be increased anywhere from 10 to 40 percent.

A recent Wired.com article profiled the practice of hypermiling. Here are some of the techniques drivers are using:

• Slow down and follow the speed limit. Fuel economy starts to drop when the speedometer exceeds 60 mph. By keeping the speedometer low, you could potentially see a 7 to 23 percent drop in your gas consumption.
• Unload all the extra stuff from your car (except your spare tire). Whether it’s golf clubs in the winter or snow shovels in the summer, we carry too much weight with us for no reason. Your trunk should not be your storage room and neither should any other area of your vehicle. Every 100 pounds of stuff you don’t need drops your fuel economy by 1 to 2 percent.
• Tune-up your engine with light viscosity oil. A more efficient engine could reduce your gas usage by 10 percent.
• Be sure the air pressure in your tires is correct. An under-inflated tire could cut fuel efficiency by 4 percent.
• Turn off your engine when your not driving. This seems like common sense, but many people allow their engines to idle so they can listen to music or run the air conditioner. Use the battery but not the combustion engine for this purpose.

These simple techniques are helping people deal with higher fuel costs, but some drivers are taking more extreme measures. Advanced hypermiling techniques include:

• Use a fuel economy gauge. You will be able to see exactly how much fuel you’re expending.
• Coast downhill. Some extreme hypermilers are turning off their engines and coasting on inclines. This, however, could mean a loss of power brakes and steering, so it should be used with caution.
• Inflate tires to the maximum pressure. Having a fuller tire means getting the maximum rolling distance out of each rotation, but it could also mean more wear and tear and poor handling.
• Try to avoid breaking. Again, to be used with caution. Some fuel conservationists are maintaining a slow crawl rather than coming to a full and complete stop at lights, signs, etc.
• Draft a truck. Perhaps the most dangerous technique of all, some drivers will ride closely behind an 18-wheeler, even turning off their engine to be pulled along by the truck’s slipstream.

While we don’t necessarily recommend using all these techniques, the car maintenance and simple conservation tips could help people who are struggling to fill up this summer. Fuel costs are not expected to drop anytime soon, and if we all do our part to conserve, it will not only benefit the environment but also our own bottom lines.